Finding the time to study
There are possibly a number of things that stop people from completing a new qualification or course of study. Simply finding the time to learn is one of the main issues that new students worry about when starting on a new course.
To put your mind at ease and help you in making more of a course with ICS, we have put together some pointers that you may like to consider if you too are concerned that you may not have the time tot complete a new course.
How long will it take to complete my qualification?
Before you enrol you should make yourself fully aware of the key topics in your chosen qualification. You should also take note of how long each topic, or indeed the whole course, should take to complete. You can work out how long you need to put aside by dividing the hours of study by the support period. E.g.
- 170 hours of study
- Support period of 12 months or 52 weeks
This works out as around 14 hours per month or just over 3 and ¼ hours a week. If you feel that you'll be able to keep to this schedule and you can put this time aside then you are well on your way to completing you course already!
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How much study time can I complete each week?
You should consider your current circumstances and the commitments you already hold to work, family members, and also to yourself. You should always put some time aside to enjoy yourself in order to refresh your batteries. Work out, based on how much time per week the course will take, whether you can put time aside to complete this study.
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What do I do about other commitments?
The key is to prioritise your commitments so that the course can be accommodated correctly into your schedule. You may not be able to put off the visit to the doctors but do you really need to watch that television programme.
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How do other students go about organising their time?
A study schedule based around work, children, and even television programmes can work wonders for your studying. If you give yourself a certain amount of work to do before you put the book down, you’ll feel great once you’ve finished it. Remember study schedules can always be revised if unforeseen problems arise. As long as you have a realistic plan you should be fine.
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Where are the best places to study?
There are a number of places you can study. It may be plausible for you to study while having lunch at work. It does mean that you may have to miss the occasional gatherings but remember it’s worth it.
At ICS, our mission is to make learning as flexible as possible abd so we have created courses that come preloaded on iPods and Laptops so you really can study while on the train, on the bus, wherever you find yourself on the move.
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Is it possible for me to study while travelling?
If you course is not available in a mobile format, it is advisable to create study cards and carry them with you. For each key topic there will be certain central ideas that you will need to grasp and study cards are a quick way to remind yourself what they’re about. You could test yourself by having questions on one side and answers on the reverse.
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When should I start studying?
It has been proved in the past that human beings are more awake at certain times of the day. As far as it is possible, you should coordinate your studies with these times so that you are able to easily absorb the course content and structure the arguments in you mind.
These times are normally between 10-12am and 6-7pm.
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Motivation, motivation, motivation
Lastly the key to maintaining you study plans is to motivate yourself. People are motivated in various ways, from giving yourself rewards for each module you pass to putting time aside to spend with your children, everyone can think of something that motivates them. This is normally their reason for studying the their course.
Students should keep this goal in mind throughout their course and keep referring back to it whether it’s a new job, promotion, or more money.
One of the main reasons students fail to complete ICS courses is due to their initial motivation waning. We’re here to help you along! Speak to your tutor if you are having problems and as always, keep your ultimate goal at the forefront of your mind.
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